Pastor-Elders

7.2.1 Subject to the will of the congregation, the elders (pastors) shall provide broad oversight to the ministry, financial management, and resources of the church. In keeping with the principles set forth in Acts 6:1-6; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; 5:17; Tit. 1:5-9; Jas. 5:14; and 1 Pet. 5:1-4, the elders (pastors) shall seek the mind of Christ through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the word of God as they undertake the work of shepherding God’s flock. The elders (pastors) shall teach and exhort; refute those who contradict the truth; pray for the sick; care for the church’s members; devote themselves to prayer, to the government of the church and to ministry. The elders (pastors) shall provide oversight of the congregation and lead the church to fulfill its ministries.

7.2.2 The elders (pastors) shall not have a minimum of men who satisfy the qualifications for the office of elder (pastor) set forth in 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Tit. 1:6-9[1]. Only men may serve as elders (pastors) in accord with 1 Tim. 2:12; 3:2. No elder (pastor) shall hold the office of deacon/deaconess during his tenure. Those elders (pastors) not receiving compensation from the church will be called “bi-vocational” for the purpose of this constitution, although biblically and functionally there is no difference among the elders (pastors).

7.2.3 The church shall recognize men gifted and willing to serve in this calling, in accordance with the constitutional provisions on elections. These men shall be received as gifts of Christ to His church and set apart as elders (pastors). This recognition shall be reaffirmed by the church triennially. After a bi-vocational elder (pastor) has served two consecutive three-year terms, he shall not be eligible for re-election to the eldership for at least one year.

7.2.4 An elder’s (pastor’s) term of office may be terminated by resignation or by dismissal. Any two members with reason to believe that an elder (pastor) should be dismissed should express such concern to the elders (pastors) and, if need be only afterwards, to the congregation. Any such action shall be done in accordance with the instructions of our Lord in Matt. 18:15-17 and 1 Tim. 5:17-21. Any elder (pastor) may be dismissed by a two-thirds vote of the members at any formally called church body meeting.

7.2.5 The elders (pastors) shall take particular responsibility to oversee worship services, administer the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, equip the church body for the work of the ministry, encourage and teach sound doctrine, admonish and correct error, oversee the process of church discipline, coordinate and promote the ministries of the church, mobilize the church for domestic church-planting and world missions, examine and instruct prospective members, examine and recommend all prospective candidates for offices and positions, and oversee the work of the deacons/deaconesses and appointed church agents and committees. The elders (pastors) are further to ensure that all who minister the word to the congregation, including outside speakers, share our fundamental convictions.

7.2.6 The elders (pastors) may establish and oversee ministry positions and committees to assist them in fulfilling their responsibilities. The elders (pastors) shall also have primary responsibility for the employment, supervision, and evaluation of staff members. The outworking of this responsibility may, on a case-by-case basis, be delegated to deacons/deaconesses or another staff member.

7.2.7 A paid or volunteer staff position does not in and of itself constitute an elder’s (pastor’s) position.

7.2.8 In proposing paid staff positions, the elders (pastors) shall present a job description for each position to the church for approval. The church may approve all candidates to fill such positions or may delegate this responsibility, on a position-by-position basis, to the elders (pastors), deacons/deaconesses, or other staff members. The elders (pastors) shall present a request to dismiss paid ministerial staff (i.e., those paid to do ministry) to the congregation. The elders (pastors) may hire and fire non-ministerial staff, or delegate that responsibility on a case-by-case basis.

7.2.9 The elders (pastors) may choose to operate among themselves by consensus, but they must have at least two-thirds approval of the elders (pastors) in order to proceed with an action.

7.2.10 The elders (pastors) shall elect a chairman who shall serve as chairman of elders’ meetings. In his absence, the elders (pastors) shall appoint another elder (pastor) to fulfill these duties.

7.2.11 For purposes of compliance with the nonprofit corporation laws of the state of California, the chairman of the elders (pastors) shall serve as the president of the corporation.